Slightly downcast from spotting the trees and being unable to leave, I wander aimlessly.

‘With the sun up, I should probably wait until night again. A bit irritating that all those people happened to be there… and nuns!? The only thing that could be worse than nuns is a nun with noble roots. Nay! Wait! A French nun with noble roots—a nightmarish thought!’

A horrible image of the terrible nun flashes in my mind, nearly causing me to shiver.

‘Well, there is not a need to dwell on it any longer. If I am proceeding to the surface, I can use this time to prepare… I suppose I may as well choose the ‘Comrade Cracker’ adaptation. It was the only one that offered any genuine protection. I shall be leaving at sundown, and it shall give me some time to make certain nothing unexpected occurs due to its addition.’

Earl summons the purple wall, and I choose the ‘adaptation.’

The flame dances intensely, becoming far more active than before, which causes the area to light up with a purple hue. I twist my back and stomach ungracefully in order to view what occurs around the kiln. A dark black haze spews from all sides of the shell. Lifting my arm, I observe a distinct lighter layer of haze slide over the darker layer of my arm. Instead of resembling a smoky cloud girl, I take on more of an overt human figure.

Still a bit thin and hazy, but more defined. However, most of the definition seems to have flown into the dress rather than my actual ‘skin,’ making it look like a vague phantom girl wearing a somber transparent dress. However, what is most surprising is...

‘The haze took the shape of that raggedy dress I consumed! And… and!’ Gazing at my reflection a bit in the murky water. ‘My arms! My shoulders! They are exposed...! Is all the fashion of this era so risque!?’

Twisting back and forth, I study my figure as the haze settles. The haze has dyed the area where my skin should be a dark gray, while the gown I ate, along with my hair, has turned into an even darker black. It leaves my arms, shoulders, and the upper portion of my bust exposed and covers my torso and legs. The dress flows outwards where it contacts the ground. I can vaguely make out my shoeless feet obscured by the dress’s twisting black haze.

I shake my head in defeat. ‘I mean, it is not as if I am not accustomed to having to wear whatever clothing I can find, but I cannot change out of this!’ I slide my hand over the dress, finding my hand does not slip through as before. ‘It does not matter! I… I do look rather elegant, and it is not as if I am a person any longer... I am simply taking the shape of one, so there is nary a need to concern myself.’

With my thoughts moving into uncomfortable territory, I banish them. ‘Prithee, Cosmic System, display my ‘Status’ and ‘Chronicles,’ I have not checked them in some time.’

Name: Constance Nightingale

Race: Kiln

Seed Type: Tower [Embryo]

Variant: Oort Stained Glass

Forms: [Particulate] [Collapsed **Inaccessible**]

Shell Level: 0 (Progress Past Embryo)

Flame Level: 0 (Progress Past Embryo)

Durability: 28.9/34

Mana: 183/210 [105/105 Max Shielding]

Erysichthon: 29/100

Inborn Effects: Corrupting Oort Cloud

Adaptations: [Cattail Tendrils] [Comrade Cracker]

Skills: [Prehensile Whip (I-2)] [Naturalist (I-0)]

Titles: [Roanoke Lost] [Parasitic]

Chronicles

Strength

9

Cattail Armament Physical Power

18

Orenda

21

General Body Strength

4

Sturdiness

4

Cattail Armament Magical Power

0

Fortitude

14

Membrane Defense

2

Perception *

17

-

-

Acuity *

8

-

-

Agility

11

Sable

88.43%

Endurance

18

Vermilion

9.75%

Mend Rate

18 (-100%) -> 0

Hoary

1.72%

Mana Regen

12

Heliotrope

0.11%

Studying my chronicles, I conjecture that Durability may increase with Sturdiness and Mana with Orenda. I also find my membrane defense has a number now and the colors have changed—my only guess is that they may be related to Adaptations.

‘All just conjectures and guesses, though. It would be wonderful if someone could just teach me. I suppose I should observe my status and chronicles more carefully to learn what happens. Thinking of which, I had committed to returning to the elderly rats, but perhaps I should increase my stats first. I can always return to the elderly rats later.’

Pondering my best course of action, I recall I had committed to returning to the copepod throng.

‘I believe the copepods may stimulate my stats and they also provided me Essence when I ate them previously. Essence is something I will always be in desperate need of if things continue as they are... Aye. Be brave, Constance! They were rather slow anyway, so it should not be too horrid a task!’

I spend some time musing the best way to battle the wicked Copepod Throng.

Presently, I am moving toward the location of the Copepod Throng. While thinking about the copepods, I realized they may not even be capable of harming me. My only weakness is the kiln, but I do not know if they have the means to damage it. Moreover, if I divide them enough, they will not even be capable of reaching it to attack.

Thus, I returned to the location of the wafer box and am now balancing the box precariously above my head. ‘I believe this would have been impossible before increasing my Strength stat.’

Carrying the box like this makes it so I have to walk slow, so it is a while before I arrive. For a moment, I hesitate to approach but flex my thin haze arms.

‘I am certain this will not fail; it will undoubtedly work!’

As expected, when I am a few feet away, the water ripples and out crawls the creatures. I rush forward, hoping for an opportunity to strike early.

‘I shall be thy undoing monsters!’

When they are only partially gathered, I tip the box’s balance. My aim is slightly off, resulting in the taking of a meager piece of my hair with it. Still, it descends toward the shallow water, striking the group with a watery thump. The sight of nearly half of the creatures trapped beneath the wafer box causes me to clench my fist victoriously.

‘Good lord, it actually worked; I did not truly believe it would work for even a moment!’ Despite their trapped companions, the remaining creatures gather. ‘I said I would avoid consuming any living creatures again, but for thou, I shall make an exception!’

The tendrils spread wide as I cast the cattail toward the group. Upon contact, the tendrils clasp together like a closing hand, engulfing a mass of the creatures. The copepods encompass the cattail, attempting to consume it as if it is meat. This only leads to their demise as the ones that bite into it fall to the ground unmoving.

Just as I believe this may go immeasurably better than I anticipated, the group splits, exposing an area of green. A liquid spews from the area, barely missing the kiln. I can hear the ground behind me sizzle when the liquid strikes it.

I take a few steps back. ‘...Wait! Nay, I can do this; such an attack shan’t deter me!’

Steadfast, I aim at the area of green and swing at the scuttling mass as hard as I can. A portion of the creatures are turned into stains upon the walls. With their numbers divided, I stretch the cattail toward the green core. It crashes into them, sending more copepods flying in all directions. Burrowing into the mass, the tendrils shovel the creatures into the haze with haste.

The tendrils quickly consume the green copepods to their last, but before I may relax, another stream of liquid strikes my eyes. My vision is partly washed away. Yet, I am able to discern the spray came from the box I used as a trap earlier. Using what little vision I have I can see the box has nearly melted into a soup from some green copepods that were beneath it.

When I look toward them, they again shoot at my eyes, believing it to be a weak point. This mistake is their downfall as their effort accomplishes nothing and the cattail greedily continues to engulf every last copepod it can find. Thanks to their misunderstanding, it is not long before I have eaten everything that is not beneath the water.

The threat eliminated, I move my hand to my stomach and pretend I am devouring a warm loaf of fresh-baked bread rather than the most revolting creatures I have ever beheld.

Defeated Lv.1 Acidic Copepod Throng

Essence value 21

Achieved Interim Prehensile Whip [Grade 3]

+1 Strength

+1 Fortitude

+1 Agility

3 Stat Points Remaining

Allowing the leftover flavor to fill me, I stare at the blue screen happily. But before I can reflect on matters, one of Earl’s walls appears instead.

Earl Interface:

Absorbed ‘Acidic Copepod Throng’

Reduced Erysichthon value by 10

Essence value 3

1.0 Refinable Nebula

0.3 Refinable Vitrum

‘Oh? Earl, and the Cosmic System? At the same time? I had nearly forgotten the Cosmic System rewarded me Essence when I defeated The Bishop’s squid. I suppose it makes sense since Earl is more concerned with eating and materials. In contrast, the Cosmic System seems to be more focused on battles, skills, and stat points. Yet, the Essence given by Earl was lower than I expected. Is it because I had already been awarded the bulk of the Essence by the Cosmic System when I defeated it? I do recall Earl stating that at one time. Hmm, I guess before I can assume anything, I should consume more varieties of food… Either way, I achieved my goal. I have proven myself!’

Like a knight, I stand with my chest puffed out.

‘The battle went so smoothly I should have time to observe the elderly rats. It could even help me advance my Naturalist skill. Things are finally looking up in this mad world!’

A few thousand steps later, I manage to find the five elderly rats. Four of them sit at the edge of their burrows around a heap of metal wafer containers. While the last sits far from the others on a semi-dry mountain of muck with its short arms crossed.

‘The one by itself seems to be the one that dropped its wafer box. I suppose the others are upset with him for leaving it behind. I should thank him for leaving it; it was of great use to me. Anyway, despite being separated from the others, it does not appear that he is missing out on any meals since it appears none of them are eating.’

The other four elderly rats sit in a circle, pounding the metal containers against the brick, accomplishing nothing more than denting the container’s edges. One of the elderly rats gets particularly frustrated and hurls a container against the brick tunnel. The container bounces off the brick while the elderly rat stomps about, waving its arms and squeaking at the other containers as if scolding them for not opening.

‘Why would they steal something they are not even capable of opening?’

The one who threw the container walks over and then stops, squinting in my direction. I move slightly, causing my glowing eyes to sway, and the elderly rat responds by jumping with a loud squeak. It sustains its frantic squeaks, alerting the others, and with its portly legs, it retreats to its burrow. The other four elderly rats follow suit and stumble to their own respective burrows, poking their heads out with narrow eyes.

Glancing around, I notice a second metal container lying nearby that seems to have suffered a similar fate.

‘Hmm, perhaps, I shall help them while I await nightfall. I am leaving shortly, and it’s not as if these elderly rats can inform anyone of my presence. They have already discovered me and do not appear to be aggressive; in fact, they seemed rather afraid of me. Why not have a bit of fun with them... It would be a delightful respite from always nearly dying.’